Arrangement for re-orientating rod-shaped objects

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for re-orientating filter tipped cigarettes comprises a drum conveyor provided with a set of individually pivotable holders for the cigarettes. These pivotable holders are arranged around the circumference of the drum and a plurality of corresponding fixed holders are longitudinally aligned with the first mentioned holders. The pivotably mounted holders engage a three-dimentionally arcuate rod surrounding the drum axis and, as the drum rotates, each of the pivotable holders engages the rod and is angularly displaced thereby through 180* until it overlaps the corresponding fixed holder. Both the sets of holders are connected to suction means which is so co-ordinated with the drum rotation that a cigarette is held in each pivotable holder until it overlaps the corresponding fixed holder, then the cigarette is transferred to the corresponding fixed holder an held therein until released from the drum.

United States Patent Schmermund et al.

[ ARRANGEMENT FOR RE- ORIENTATING ROD-SHAPED OBJECTS [72] Inventors: Alfred Schmermund, Gevelsberg; Rudolf O. Schulz, Westfalen, both of Germany Maschinefabrik Alfred Schrnermund, Gevelsberg, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 197i [2|] Appl. No.: l06,834

[73] Assignee:

[51] Int. Cl ..B65g 47/24 [58] Field of Search .....l98/33 AC, 20 C, 22; l3l/94 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Nordquist et a] 198/33 AC [451 Oct. 10, 1972 FORElGN lATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 994,813 6/1965 Great Britain 198/33 AC Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant ExaminerDouglas D. Watts Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT An arrangement for re-orientating filter tipped cigarettes comprises a drum conveyor provided with a set of individually pivotable holders for the cigarettes. These pivotable holders are arranged around the circumference of the drum and a plurality of corresponding fixed holders are longitudinally aligned with the first mentioned holders. The pivotably mounted holders engage a three-dimentionally arcuate rod surrounding the drum axis and, as the drum rotates, each of the pivotable holders engages the rod and is angularly displaced thereby through 180 until it overlaps the corresponding fixed holder. Both the sets of holders are connected to suction means which is so co-ordinated with the drum rotation that a cigarette is held in each pivotable holder until it overlaps the corresponding fixed holder, then the cigarette is transferred to the corresponding fixed holder an held therein until released from the drum.

8 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBBI 1 I912 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG. 3.

MOTOR -----n ARRANGEMENT FOR RE-ORIENTATING ROD- SHAPED OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an arrangement for reorientating rod-shaped objects, particularly filter cigarettes.

In the production of filter cigarettes, for example, two juxtaposed rows of cigarettes, the filter tips of which are adjacent one another, are formed. The cigarettes are conveyed along a path which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the individual cigarettes. For the purpose of further processing, for example in an automatic trestle filling machine, it is necessary for the cigarettes of both rows to be formed into a single row of cigarettes which are orientated in the same direction. The cigarettes of one row must therefore be turned through 180 in order to enable them to be subsequently arranged in a single row in which all the cigarettes are orientated in the same direction.

For this purpose, a drum conveyor is known which is provided with holders for the cigarettes. The cigarettes from both rows are fed to the holders of the drum conveyor and, after a fractional rotation of the drum conveyor, the cigarettes of the row which is not to be turned, are transferred to a further conveyor, whilst the individual cigarettes of the row which is to be turned are first stood upright by mechanical means and then turned over and loaded into corresponding holders on the drum conveyor. This method of turning the cigarettes has the disadvantage that, during the turning operation, they are supported by their end faces in depressions in the holders and that they have play in their movement which enables them to change over from one guide element to the other so that the individual cigarettes are exposed to not inconsiderable mechanical stresses which frequently give rise to damage to the cigarettes and disturbances in the performance of the operation.

The problem underlying the present invention consists in reducing damage to the cigarettes resulting from the turning operation by eliminating uncontrolled individual movements of the cigarettes and the frictional stresses to which they are subjected in known arrangements. Particular care must also be taken to ensure that the constructional means for carrying out the turning operation are not expensive or liable to breakdown and that they permit a high output to be maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for re-orientating a plurality of rodshaped objects comprising a first drum conveyor rotatably mounted about a first axis, a plurality of pivotably mounted first holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor, a plurality of corresponding further holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor in fixed spatial relationship thereto, feed means to feed said objects to said first holders, displacement means to reciprocally angularly displace, on each revolution of said first drum conveyor, each said first holder between afirst position in which said first holder is substantially aligned with its corresponding further holder in endao-end relationship and a second position in which said first holder is located in overlying relationship to said corresponding further holder, and suction means synchronized with the rotation of said first drum to retain each said object in said first holder until said first holder is in said overlying relationship, then facilitate the transfer of said object to said one corresponding further holder and subsequently release said object therefrom, the arrangement being such that said objects released from said further holders are turned through relative to those fed to said first holders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an arrangement embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a section along the line A-B of FIG. I, and

FIG. 3 is a section through the initial conveyor drum.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the arrangement for turning one of two rows of cigarettes delivered by a rotatable conveyor drum 1, which is mounted on a driven shaft 23, comprises a drum 3, which is driven by means of a rotating shaft 2 and on which the holders for the cigarettes to be turned are articulated at one end in pivot bearings 5. These holders are in the form of suction troughs 4. The suction trough holders 4 are provided with passages 6 (FIG. 2) for the application of suction to the holders 4. One end of each of the passages 6 communicates with the interior of the suction trough holders 4 and the other end of each of the passages 6 communicate with suction pipes 7. The suction pipes 7 are connected by elastic hoses 8 to two air control discs 9 and 10 which provide suction means synchronized with the rotation of the drum 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the suction trough holders 4 is provided with a web II which has a cutout I2 engaging with a control element 13. As the drum 3 rotates with the shaft 2, the interaction between the webs 11 and the control element 13 brings about a reciprocating swivelling movement of the suction trough holders 4 about their respective pivot bearings 5. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control element 13 comprises a stationary rod which is partly curved outwards and partly indented and is guided around the axis of rotation of the drum 3. Coaxially aligned with respective suction trough holders 4 on the drum 3 there are provided a plurality of further holders l4. Suction is applied to the holders 14 via suction passages 15 and a suction pipe 16. As will subsequently be described, cigarettes are transferred from the holders 4 to the holders 14.

The mode of operation of the arrangement is as follows:

Of the two juxtaposed rows of cigarettes situated on the conveyor drum 1, the filter tips of which are adjacent one another, only one row is transferred to the suction trough holders 4 of the rotating drum 3. With the progressive rotation of the drum 3, the suction trough holders 4 are individually swivelled through 180 as a result of interaction between the respective webs 11 and the stationary rod 13. As each first holder 4 completes its swivelling movement, the individual cigarettes carried thereby are released by the suction means 6, 7 associated with the trough holders 4 and transferred to corresponding ones of the holders 14, the cigarettes being retained therein by the suction means 15, 16 associated with the holders 14. Although in the embodiment described, the pivotably mounted holders 4 are angularly displaced through 180 to I completely overly the corresponding fixed holder 14, this angular displacement may be less than 180 provided that each pivotable holder at least partly overlies the corresponding fixed holder before the cigarette is released by the suction means and is transferred to the corresponding fixed holder 14. Thus, each of the pivotally displaced holders 4 will be located in overlying relationship to the corresponding fixed holder when the angular displacement of the pivotable holder exceeds 90. After the cigarettes have been released, the suction trough holders 4 are swivelled back into their starting position in order to receive further cigarettes. From the holders [4 on the drum 3 the cigarettes are delivered to a collecting drum 17 (FIG. 1), which has holders 18 for this purpose. The collecting drum 17 is mounted for rotation with a drive shaft 22. Between the holders 18 for the turned cigarettes, the collecting drum 77 has further holders 19 in which the cigarettes of the second row of the first conveyor drum 1 are likewise deposited by means of an intermediate drum 20, likewise provided with suitable holders. The intermediate drum 20 is mounted to rotate with an intermediate drive shaft 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the first conveyor drum 1 is provided with suction pipes 27 and 28 communicating with each of the cigarette holders thereon and the intermediate drum 20 is provided with cigarette holders, of which two adjacent ones are indicated by the reference numerals 31 and 36, communicating with suction pipes 32 and 33. The holders 18 in the collecting drum 17 communicate with suction pipes 29, 30 and the holders l9 communicate with suction pipes 34, 35. The cigarettes of both the rows are thus brought together on the collecting drum l7 and deposited, orientated in the same direction and in one row, on a longitudinal conveyor belt 21, which delivers the cigarettes to a trestle filling machine. As shown in HO. 1, the conveyor belt 21 is supported on a drive wheel 26 which is rotated by means of a drive shaft 25. The holders of the various drums are placed under suction, the suction being appropriately switched on and off in each case under the control of suction means comprising air control discs 9 and in known manner.

The drive of the drum and control of the suction of each drum 1, l7 and can be similar to the corresponding drive and suction described with respect to drum 3 and illustrated in FIG. 2. An appropriate motor 42 can drive the shaft 2 through a gear 41. The suction control discs 9 and 10 mounted about shaft 2 can synchronize the application of suction to the holders.

The suction means 50 and drive means 52 for drums 17 and 20 are shown schematically in FIG. 1. All of the drive motors are appropriately synchronized with each other in an obvious manner. The suction means for each drum may be controlled by discs as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows the coaxial rows of holders 48, 49 on drum 1 connected to suction control discs 43, 44 through passages 27, 28 and 47. The drum shaft 23 is driven by motor 46 through gear 45.

We claim:

1. An arrangement for re-orientating a plurality of rod-shaped objects comprising in combination:

a first drum conveyor;

a plurality of pivotably mounted first holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor;

a plurality of corresponding non-pivotably mounted further holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor in fixed spatial rela tionship thereto;

drive means to rotate said first drum conveyor about a first axis;

feed means to feed said objects to said first holders;

displacement means to reciprocally angularly displace, on each revolution of said first drum conveyor, each said first holder through substantially between a first position in which said first holder is substantially aligned with its correspond ing further holder in end-to-end relationship and a second position in which said first holder is located in substantially overlapping relationship to said one corresponding further holder; and

suction means synchronized with the rotation of said first drum to retain each said object in said first holder until said first holder is in said overlapping relationship, then facilitate the transfer of said object to said one corresponding further holder and subsequently release said object therefrom;

whereby said objects released from said further holders are turned through 180 relative to those fed to said first holders.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each said first holder is provided with a web member engaging said displacement means.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim l, wherein each said first holder and each said further holder is provided with wall surfaces defining an open trough communicating with said suction means to accommodate one of said objects.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein each said first holder is provided with a web member which projects therefrom oppositely to said walls.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacement means comprises a three-dimensionally arcuate rod surrounding said first axis and coupled to each said first holder.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each said rod-shaped object comprises a filter-tipped cigarette.

7. An arrangement for re-orientating a plurality of rod-shaped objects comprising in combination:

a first drum conveyor;

a plurality of pivotably mounted first holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor;

a plurality of corresponding non-pivotably mounted further holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor in fixed spatial relationship thereto;

drive means to rotate said first drum conveyor about a first axis;

feed means to feed said objects to said first holders;

displacement means to reciprocally angularly displace, on each revolution of said first drum conveyor, each said first holder through substantially 180 between a first position in which said first holder is substantially aligned with its corresponding further holder in end-to-end relationship and a second position in which said first holder is located in substantially overlapping relationship to said one corresponding further holder; and

suction means synchronized with the rotation of said first drum to retain each said object in said first holder until said first holder is in said overlapping relationship, then facilitate the transfer of said object to said one corresponding further holder and subsequently release said object therefrom,

a second rotatably mounted drum conveyor, second drive means to rotate said second drum about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said second drum being provided with a plurality of second holders each coupled to said suction means to retain said objects therein, said second holders being disposed in first and second co-axial rows around the circumference of said second drum and said second holders of a first of said rows passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with said first holders on said first drum;

a third rotatably mounted drum conveyor, third drive means to rotate said third drum about a third axis parallel to said first axis, said third drum being provided with a plurality of third holders disposed in a single row around the circumference thereof and each coupled to said suction means to retain said objects therein;

a fourth rotatably mounted drum conveyor, fourth drive means to rotate said fourth drum about a fourth axis parallel to said first axis, said fourth drum being provided with a plurality of fourth holders disposed in a single row around the circumference thereof and each coupled to said suction means to retain said objects therein;

a first group of alternate ones of said third holders on said third drum passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with said further holders on said first drum;

said fourth holders on said fourth drum passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with said second holders in said second row on said second drum, and said fourth holders on said fourth drum passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with a second group of alternate ones of said third holders on said third drum;

whereby each of said objects in said further holders on said first drum may be transferred in response to said suction means to respective ones of said first group of said third holders on said third drum, and each of said objects in said second holders in said second row on said second drum may be transferred in response to said suction means, via said fourth holders on said fourth drum, to respective ones of said second group of said third holders on said third drum and, when said objects in said first and second rows on said second drum are op positely orientated, said object in said third holders on said third drum are all orientated in the same direction.

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 7, further comprising a longitudinally displaceable conveyor arranged to receive said objects released by said suction means from said third holders on said third drum, whereby said rod-shaped objects on said longitudinally displaceable conveyor are disposed in a single row and are all orientated in the same direction. 

1. An arrangement for re-orientating a plurality of rod-shaped objects comprising in combination: a first drum conveyor; a plurality of pivotably mounted first holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor; a plurality of corresponding non-pivotably mounted further holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor in fixed spatial relatIonship thereto; drive means to rotate said first drum conveyor about a first axis; feed means to feed said objects to said first holders; displacement means to reciprocally angularly displace, on each revolution of said first drum conveyor, each said first holder through substantially 180* between a first position in which said first holder is substantially aligned with its corresponding further holder in end-to-end relationship and a second position in which said first holder is located in substantially overlapping relationship to said one corresponding further holder; and suction means synchronized with the rotation of said first drum to retain each said object in said first holder until said first holder is in said overlapping relationship, then facilitate the transfer of said object to said one corresponding further holder and subsequently release said object therefrom; whereby said objects released from said further holders are turned through 180* relative to those fed to said first holders.
 2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each said first holder is provided with a web member engaging said displacement means.
 3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each said first holder and each said further holder is provided with wall surfaces defining an open trough communicating with said suction means to accommodate one of said objects.
 4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein each said first holder is provided with a web member which projects therefrom oppositely to said walls.
 5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacement means comprises a three-dimensionally arcuate rod surrounding said first axis and coupled to each said first holder.
 6. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein each said rod-shaped object comprises a filter-tipped cigarette.
 7. An arrangement for re-orientating a plurality of rod-shaped objects comprising in combination: a first drum conveyor; a plurality of pivotably mounted first holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor; a plurality of corresponding non-pivotably mounted further holders each adapted to accommodate one of said objects and disposed around the circumference of said drum conveyor in fixed spatial relationship thereto; drive means to rotate said first drum conveyor about a first axis; feed means to feed said objects to said first holders; displacement means to reciprocally angularly displace, on each revolution of said first drum conveyor, each said first holder through substantially 180* between a first position in which said first holder is substantially aligned with its corresponding further holder in end-to-end relationship and a second position in which said first holder is located in substantially overlapping relationship to said one corresponding further holder; and suction means synchronized with the rotation of said first drum to retain each said object in said first holder until said first holder is in said overlapping relationship, then facilitate the transfer of said object to said one corresponding further holder and subsequently release said object therefrom, a second rotatably mounted drum conveyor, second drive means to rotate said second drum about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said second drum being provided with a plurality of second holders each coupled to said suction means to retain said objects therein, said second holders being disposed in first and second co-axial rows around the circumference of said second drum and said second holders of a first of said rows passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with said first holders on said first drum; a third rotatably mounted drum conveyor, third drive means to rotate said third drum about a third axis parallel to said first axis, said third drum being provided with a plurality of third holders disposed in a siNgle row around the circumference thereof and each coupled to said suction means to retain said objects therein; a fourth rotatably mounted drum conveyor, fourth drive means to rotate said fourth drum about a fourth axis parallel to said first axis, said fourth drum being provided with a plurality of fourth holders disposed in a single row around the circumference thereof and each coupled to said suction means to retain said objects therein; a first group of alternate ones of said third holders on said third drum passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with said further holders on said first drum; said fourth holders on said fourth drum passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with said second holders in said second row on said second drum, and said fourth holders on said fourth drum passing through a common transfer zone simultaneously with a second group of alternate ones of said third holders on said third drum; whereby each of said objects in said further holders on said first drum may be transferred in response to said suction means to respective ones of said first group of said third holders on said third drum, and each of said objects in said second holders in said second row on said second drum may be transferred in response to said suction means, via said fourth holders on said fourth drum, to respective ones of said second group of said third holders on said third drum and, when said objects in said first and second rows on said second drum are oppositely orientated, said object in said third holders on said third drum are all orientated in the same direction.
 8. An arrangement as defined in claim 7, further comprising a longitudinally displaceable conveyor arranged to receive said objects released by said suction means from said third holders on said third drum, whereby said rod-shaped objects on said longitudinally displaceable conveyor are disposed in a single row and are all orientated in the same direction. 